diff --git a/mt7996/main.c b/mt7996/main.c
index 36b85e44..8c80c4e8 100644
--- a/mt7996/main.c
+++ b/mt7996/main.c
@@ -1073,16 +1073,17 @@ mt7996_mac_sta_add_links(struct mt7996_dev *dev, struct ieee80211_vif *vif,
 			goto error_unlink;
 		}
 
-		err = mt7996_mac_sta_init_link(dev, link_conf, link_sta, link,
-					       link_id);
-		if (err)
-			goto error_unlink;
-
 		mphy = mt76_vif_link_phy(&link->mt76);
 		if (!mphy) {
 			err = -EINVAL;
 			goto error_unlink;
 		}
+
+		err = mt7996_mac_sta_init_link(dev, link_conf, link_sta, link,
+					       link_id);
+		if (err)
+			goto error_unlink;
+
 		mphy->num_sta++;
 	}